Can you shorten a long box?

[Kris_77stepside]

Sorry if this has been asked before but I couldn't find any info on it with the search.  Just wondering if a long box  (non stepside) could be shortened to make a short box?  I have been looking for a regular short box to replace my stepside box but everyone I find is over $500.  I haven't seen any in the junkyards but there are a lot of long boxes and people sell them pretty cheap.  So can it be done?  If so any links on how to do it?  Thanks.

[junkman.]

Yes it can be done if you have the skill to do so or if its going to be a trailer
the first thing is to get measurements of a short bed and then shorten the floor if you do it exact you will be able to bolt on any other bedsides.the floor will work as a jig to set up the sides

its  not SBS i posted some pic's on my build   

[Kris_77stepside]

Thanks for the info and pics.  But I have another question. There's someone selling shortbox sides locally for $60 that are almost rust free.  Would it just be easier to pic those up and then find a junk long box with a good floor (lot of them at the junkyard) and then just shorten the long box floor to match the short box sides and use the front panel and tailgate from the long box?  I went to school for autobody but I think it would be easier to shorten a floor then it would be the sides.  The only thing I would worry about is getting the box to frame mounts to line up.

[slammed79]

Definitely easier to shorten a floor. Just measure it out and you should be able to bolt it up without adding holes

[ToddN]

And where are all these long boxes you are seeing?

[junkman.]

look on Craigslist or Google it for sale

[jdl71]

Sorry if this has been asked before but I couldn't find any info on it with the search.  Just wondering if a long box  (non stepside) could be shortened to make a short box?  I have been looking for a regular short box to replace my stepside box but everyone I find is over $500.  I haven't seen any in the junkyards but there are a lot of long boxes and people sell them pretty cheap.  So can it be done?  If so any links on how to do it?  Thanks.

Where are you at?

http://kansascity.craigslist.org/pts/2637026929.html

[Kris_77stepside]

I'm in Minnesota

[jdl71]

A bit far then. Sorry, but it looked like a decent deal.

[Kris_77stepside]

That's alright but if I lived closer I would of already bought it lol.  My box is full of rust and has at least 2 gallons of bondo on it.

[Captkaos]

Junkman, if you post a new topic with all of your pics from the conversion with a small write-up and your insight I will gladly post this in the Tech section.